Land Trust Proposes Affordable Duplexes

Though the Chapel Hill Town Council passed a temporary ban on duplex construction in October, members plan to consider allowing some duplexes, but only for families who need affordable housing.

Robert Dowling, executive director of Orange Community Housing and Land Trust, presented the duplex proposal to the council earlier this month because he said developers would prefer duplexes as a way to provide affordable housing.

The land trust helps working families purchase affordable homes with aid from local governments.

Dowling introduced a petition asking the council to allow duplexes in some developments as long as they are owned by the land trust. Council members said they expect the town staff to present a report Jan. 27 on the feasibility of allowing duplexes for affordable housing.

Dowling said keeping the duplexes under the land trust would ensure that, instead of going to students, affordable units would go to families that need them.

"It is my understanding that the ban on duplexes came from ... when you get three or four students living in both sides of a unit and that can create problems," Dowling said.

Council member Mark Kleinschmidt said putting duplexes under the land trust would encourage owners to occupy, not rent out, the units.

Kleinschmidt said the need for affordable housing in Orange County means the town must offer diverse housing options.

Council members agreed with Dowling that some developers would prefer affordable duplexes to small affordable homes.

The council has mandated that any new development provide 15 percent of new units for affordable housing or 25 percent of new units with less than 35,000 square feet. But, Dowling said, these options are not financially viable for developments with fewer homes.

Also, Dowling said, these options make affordable housing units in new developments out of place.

Carrboro's similar small-house provision also has not had much success, Board of Aldermen members said.

Another affordable housing option recently presented to the council is the possibility of allowing accessory apartments attached to larger houses.

Dowling conceded that the accessory apartments address a legitimate concern of the lack of affordable renting but worried that, without the land trust, they would not remain affordable.

Ward said the accessory apartment and duplex options could be better affordable housing tools because they would effectively ensure affordable housing in affluent neighborhoods.

The City Editor can be reached at citydesk@unc.edu.